Filing-cabinet.



H. A. WAHDY.

FILING CABNET. wmcmofe FILED SEPT/22,

H. A.y WARDY.

FILING CABINET.

APPLlcATIoN FILED SEPT. 22. 191.3A

Patented J uIy 13, 1915.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

HARRY A.. WARDY, 0F

KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO WALTER IVI. ELINKS,

TRUSTEE, 0F KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

FILING-CABINET.

inlaid-64. i

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented July i3, i915.

Application filed September 22, 1913. Serial No. 791,253.

To all who/a it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY A. iVAnDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Filing-Cabinet, of which the following is a specification in such full, clear, and precise language as will enable those skilled in the ar't to understand the same. f

This invention. relates to filing cabinets and consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts shown and described.

An object. of the invention is to provide a suitable filing case wherein folders or cards may be placed in any systematic order and to provide in connection therewith a selecting device, whereby predetermined ones of the folders and cards may be withdrawn irrespective of their positions in the case.

Another object of the invention is to provide a convenient form of mechanism for readily and accurately adjusting' the selecting device.

iVith these and other 'objects in vie-w, I have constructed a. filing cabinet consisting of the several parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the drawings in which- Figure l is a plan view of the cabinet, showing one of the sides thereof open. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail fragmentary plan view of the principal operating parts of the selecting device. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a side view of the cabinet, showing the side thereof in normal or raised adjustment. Fig. 5 i is a detail fragmentary view, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. el, more particularly illustrating the operating handle or lever for the selecting device and its immediately associated pai ts. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view, showing a fragmentary horizontal section, substantially on the line G-6 of Fig. 4, illustrating particularly the hinging of the bail constituting a portion of the selecting device.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, A indicates a cabinet or case constructed vpreferably of metal an-d comprising front and end walls l, a'bottom wall 2 and side walls 3; each of the side walls has a hinged connection with the bottom wall 2 as indicated at 4v. A tractile spring 5 is provided at either side of the rear of the case; one end of each of said springs being xed to the bottom wall remote from the side and the other end of each of said springs beingsecured to each ofthe side walls 3, respectively, The tendency of said springs is to actuate said side walls to vertical or closed position, as will be readily understood. Longitudinal blocks 6 are secured to the bottom ofthe cabinet adjacent to each side thereof; said blocks having their side faces inclined slightly outwardly, and

ed and withdrawn in the calendarial or numerical-order. The folders or cards are pro-V vided at each side thereof, and upon their front face, with indicating characters such, for instance, as consecutive numbers indicating the respective days of the month. I have illustrated, for the purpose of oonvenience, the folders or cards with the numbers from l to l5 inclusive, on one side and from 15 to 3l inclusive on the opposite side, making a complete monthly index. When the folders or cards are filed in alphabetical arrangement and it is desired to withdraw selected ones thereof say, for instance, on the ninth day of the month, the removable hook 7, which comprises a` clamping body portion and a hook extension, is adjusted upon the edge of the folder or card so that the desired date will appear through the open space of the body portion of the hook as is clearly shown in Fig. 3 at the time the folder or card is filed. `All the folders or cards are provided with uniformly positioned index characters, so that when filed all 0f the hooks for a given date will be in longitudinal alinement and will, therefore, be in position to be engaged by the selecting rod when adjusted for such predetermined date iirthe manner hereinafter described.

The selecting device that is carried by each of the side walls, comprises 'a rod 11,

provided at'each end with an outwardly projecting lip 12 which is hinged or pivoted to a guide plate or bearing member 13, which is adapted to slide vertically in slots 14, formed in the side walls near each end thereof, as clearly appears inFig. 1 of the drawings. The said rod 11 is provided with an arm or thumb plate 15 which extends upwardly and outwardly therefrom through a slot 16m the side wall of the case. The rod l1 is provided with a bail which extends inwardly and'in normal adjustment, obliquely downwardly therefrom, comprising a rod 17 supported in parallel adjustment to the rod 11 by angular integral arms 18; said arms 18 being united at their inner ends to the rod 11 adjacent to each extremity of 4said rod 11, respectively. The arrangement of these parts will be clearly apprehended from the illustration thereof included in Fig. l of the drawings.

Near the bottom of each of the side walls, substantially intermediate of their ends, is

secured a bracket 19 in which are journaled 'end with an ear or extension 23, which has pivotal connection with a movable collar 24 encirclin the rod 11, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. One of the/pins or shafts 20 extends through the side ofthe cabinet and is provided at its outer end, With an arm 25. The arm 25 constitutes an indicating device as well as an operating handle for raising and lowering the selecting bail. It is apparent that as the handle 25 is moved through the arc indicated by the graduated scale 2G', that the rod 17 through its .connections will be correspondingly positioned, for instance, if it is desired to engage all folders or cards whose hooks have been "positioned upon the folders or cards at the place indicated by the numeral 9, the arm 25 is so positioned on the folders or cards.

moved to the position indicated on the scale by the corresponding numeral 9 which through the graduated connections moves the rod 17 in a. position to engage the hooks For the purpose of readily engaging and operating the arm 25 said arm is provided with a suitable thumb or finger seat 27; and for preventing accidental misplacement of the arm after adjustment, a series of perforatioiis or holes 28 are provided in which aninwardly extending pin 29, carried by the arm 25, is seated by inward pressure due to the flexibility of the arm 25, after it has been moved to proper position.

After the rdd 17 has been brought to the `desired position through the mechanism described, the shaft 11 is rocked by manipulation of the arm or thumb plate 15, raising the rod 17 frofn its `normally downwardly inclined position to a, horizontal adjustment, thereby engaging all hooks with which it is alined. After thus engaging the hooks the side of the cabinet or case may be pulled outwardly, which movement lifts from their position in the cabinet all the folders or cards thus engaged by the selecting device, and carries them over to the side of the cabinet as shown in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing description it will'be apprehended that the present invention-'is very useful where the follow-up system, socalled, is employed, for the reason that the folders or cards' may be filed in the usual alphabetical order, and may be simply and accurately selected and withdrawn from the cabinet in predetermined classes, without disturbing the arrangement of the remaining folders or caids contained inthe cabinet.

I am aware that modification in the structure, within equivalent limits, ,may be made without departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention. I do not limit myself, therefore, to exact details, but

What I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In a filing cabinet arranged to contain folders, the combination with a hinged wall,

of engaging members adapted to be adjusted at selected positions on said folders, a selecting device carried by said wall, a mechanical device for positioning said selectingn device in position to engage selected ones of said engaging members, and an 'arm for raising said selecting device to engage said engaging members.

2. In a filing cabinet, the combination'with a number of folders or cards arranged in said cabinet in a predetermined order, engaging members adapted to be adjusted in different positions on said folders, a hinged wall, a selecting device carriedA by said hinged wall, and mechanical means for selectively adjusting said selecting device, sub1 stantially as specified.

3. In a filing cabinet, the combination with a plurality of folders or cards, a hinged wall, means operable to connect said wall with said folders or cards, and a mechanical device for selectively adjusting said connecting means, substantially as specified.

4. In a filing cabinet, the combination -with `a plurality of foldcrsarranged therein in I-said engaging members. and a mechanical device for raising and lowering said shaft, substantially as specified.

.7. A filing s vstein comprising a case, a series of folders or cards arranged in said case, adjustable engaging members adapted to be adjusted in different positions on said folders or cards, a selecting device support- .ed by one of the ivalls of said case. mechaniczsl means for positioning said selecting de-4 vice, and a handle projecting through one ivall of said case for operating said selecting device to engage the engaging members carried by said folders or cards.

S. A filing cabinet arranged to contain folders or cards and comprising a bottom and end vvalls, a support hinged to said bottom Wall, co-acting arms supported by said support. a shaft supported by said arms. a bail carried by said shaft, means for raising and loivering said arms and thereby said shaft. engaging members carried by the folders or cards, and means for rocking said shaft effectively toengage said bail ivith said engaging members carried by said folders or cards. substantially7 as specified.

9. In a tiling cabinet arranged to contain folders or cards. the combination ivith a hinged vvall and resilient means for maintaining said ivall normally in vertical position. of a shaft slidably supported by said wall a bail carried by said shaft, engaging nienibers carried by the folders or cards in said cabinet. n'ieans for raising and lowering said shaft. au actuating device for guiding the operation of said means. and a handle for rocking said shaft effectively to cause said bail to engage ivith selected ones of said engaging members carried on the folders or cards` substantially as specified.

il). The conibination ivith a plurality of folders or pards and adjustable hooks cai'- ried thereby. of a hinged support arranged i upon said ivall, a rock shaft supported by said levers, an actuating lever for operating said levers effectively to move said rock shaft vertically adjacent to said Wall, an engaging device supported by said rock shaft, and means for rocking said shaft effectively to move said engaging device into engagement With projections on said cai'ds and folders.

12. A tiling cabinet comprising a cabinet arranged 'to contain cards and folders, a pivoted ivall closing one side of said cabinet, interconnected supports pivoted upon said ivall, bearings carried by said supports, i roch shaft or rod. joiiriialed in said bearings, a lever for actuating said supports effectively to move said rock shaft vertically, an engaging device supported by said rock shaft, and means for rocking said shaft effectively to move said engaging device into engagementivith projections on said cards and folders.

' 13. In a filing cabinet, ythe combination ivith series of cards and folders deposited in "the cabinet, and projections extending laterally from said cards andfoldcrs, of a device operable to engageivith predetermined ones of said projections, means for positioning said device to engage anyV desired ones 'of said projections, means for preventing accidental change of position of said engaging device, a hand level' operable to engage said engaging device ivith said projections, and an indicator controlled by said engagingl device designating ivhat series of hooks said engaging device it is positioned to engage.

1-1. ln a tiling cabinet, a wall hinged at one side of .aidfcabineb levers pivotcd to said "ivall, bearings pivoted to said levers, a rockable support journaled in said bearings. means for actuating said levers to move said rockable support vertically. a latching device for preventing accidental movement of said levers, and a bail carried by said rockable support. for the purpose set forth.

l5. ln a filing cabinet, the combination with a hinged ivall at one side of the cabinet, of a bail supportcdby said hinged ivall for vertical adjustment and movement from the ivall, a manipulative device for moving, said bail vertically ivith resi'iect to said ivall, and means for actuating said bail aivay from said wall. Y

1G. In a filing cabinet, the combination ivith a support hinged at one side of said cabinet and'niovable to and from a vertical position, of a bail carried by said support for vertical adjustment and movement from the support, a device for moving said bail vertically to different positions with respect to said support, and a lever for actuating said bail inwardly from said support, silbstantially as described.

17. In a filing cabinet, the combination p different positions with respect to said support, means for preventing accidental displacement of said bail from any of the positions to which it may be moved as aforesaid, and an independently operable device for actuating` said bail inwardly from said support, substantially as described.

1S. In a filing cabinet, the combination with a support hinged at one side of said 'cabinet and movable to and from a vertical position, and meansfor holding said support in a vertical position at the side of said cabinet, of movable bearings supported by said support, a bail supported by said bearings, means for actuating said bearings to move said bail to different vertical positions, and means for actuating said bail inwardly from sa id support, substantially as described.

19. In a filing cabinet,`the combination with a support hinged at one side of said cabinet and movable to and from a vertical position, and means for holding said support in a vertical position at the side of said cabinet, of a bail, means for supporting said bail in connection with said support for vertical adjustment and movement from the support, manipulative means for moving said bail vertically to different positions, and

means for actuating said bail inwardly from' vsaid support.

20. In a. filing cabinet, the combination with a support hinged at one side of said cabinet, a swinging bail carried by said support for vertical adjustment and movement from the support, means for actuating said bail inwardly from said support, and independent means for moving said bail Vei'tically to di (ferent positions.

2l, In a filingv cabinet, the combination with a plurality of folders or cards, and engaging members in connection with said folders or cards, of a support hinged at one side of said cabinet, a bail inovably carried by said support, and a lever for actuating said bail into engagement with said engaging members, substantially as described.

22. In a liling cabinet, the combination with a plurality of 'folders supported within the cabinet, and engaging members on said folders, ot' a. support hinged at one side of said cabinet' and movable to and from a vertical position, a bail pivotally supported by said support` and mechanical means for moving said bail in the direction away from said support and into engagement with said engaging members.

23. In a filing cabinet, the combination with a number of folders or cards supported within the cabinet, a support hinged at one side ot said cabinet and movable to and trom la vertical position, and means holding said gageinent with said engaging members, sub-V stantially as described. 24. In a filing cabinet, the combination of a support pivoted at-one side of said cabinet and movable to and from a vertical-position, and means for holding said support in avertical` position, of a device supported on said support pivotally and for vertical adj ustment, means for moving said device vertically to different positions, and independ ent means for actiiatizg said device away from said support, substantially as described. Q5. In a "filing cabinet, in combination with a hinged'support one side of the cabinet and movable to and from' a vertical position, and actuating means for restoring said support to vertical position after it has been movedv away therefrom, cf a bail carried by said support pivotally and for Vertical adjustment, means for moving said bail vertically vto dii'erent posit-ions, and independent "means for actuating said bail away from said support, substantially as described.

26. In a filing cabinet arranged to contain cards and folders, a hinged wall at one side of the cabinet, a lever pivoted upon said wall, another lever pivoted upon said wall, interconnections between said levers where by one of said levers will aetiiate the other,

a manually engageable device for actuating one of said levers, a roclcshaft supported by'said levers, an engagingf'device supported by said rock shaft, and means for rocking 'aid shaft effectively to movel said engaging device into engagement with prejcctions on i said cards and folders.

27. In a tiling cabinet arranged to contain cards and folders, a hinged wall at one side of said cabinet, interconnected levers pivoted upon. said wall, an engaging device,

ing witnesses.

l HARRY A, WARDY. lVitnesses:

R. B. MosnLnY, GEO. J. PUTT.

iio 

